Apple executive says ‘hold us accountable’ over iPhone Duo crease

Apple is putting its reputation behind one of the biggest questions surrounding iPhone Duo: how well its foldable display will hide the crease after months and years of use.

Speaking in an interview with TechRadar, Apple vice president of hardware engineering Tom Marieb discussed the engineering behind iPhone Duo and said the company’s nano-texture inner display was chosen in part to make changes around the hinge less noticeable over time. Asked about the possibility of the crease becoming more visible with continued folding, Marieb told the publication to “hold us accountable” on the issue.

The comment is notable because crease visibility remains one of the compromises associated with foldable phones. Apple does not claim that iPhone Duo has no crease. Instead, the company says its display construction and matte nano-texture finish are designed to minimize its visibility.

Apple says the 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR display uses optically clear adhesives that allow its layers to move as the phone folds, reducing stress around the fold. The nano-texture surface also reduces glare and reflections, which can otherwise make subtle changes in the shape of a glossy display easier to see.

Marieb also described the hinge as an area Apple spent considerable time refining. According to the executive, Apple concentrated on its resistance and feel so that opening and closing iPhone Duo feels solid rather than loose, while still allowing the device to remain positioned at different folding angles.

The comments provide more context around Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which was unveiled earlier this month. Early hands-on impressions have found that a crease can still be seen in certain lighting, although the matte inner display makes it considerably less prominent.

How that changes with prolonged everyday use will be one of the more interesting tests once iPhone Duo reaches customers. Apple has not published a rated number of fold cycles for the device, making long-term real-world testing particularly important.

iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States, with pre-orders opening October 16 ahead of availability on October 23.

MacRumors highlighted Marieb’s comments following the interview.